Eagles, Archers at it again
By Jasmine W. Payo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:54:00 09/06/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Pressure levels vary as another battle unfolds between the biggest collegiate rivals in the country.
La Salle shoots for the remaining semifinal incentive against worry-free Ateneo in another anticipated classic UAAP basketball confrontation in a sold-out 4 p.m. showdown Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Franz Pumaren, back from Iran earlier than scheduled, will lead the Green Archers’ bid for the remaining twice-to-beat Final Four advantage on the final day of the elimination round.
“It was hard on my part,” said Pumaren, who arrived on Thursday night after the Nokia Philippine Youth Team bowed out in the quarterfinals of the Fiba-Asia Championship for Junior Men in Tehran.
“We had a respectable run in Iran. But I was forced to come home because the father of (assistant coach) Jack Santiago is in critical condition.”
After turning over the reins of the 18-under crew to older brother Derrick, Pumaren on Friday put his focus back on the Archers’ form.
“They’ve been playing really well; our main concern is their size,” said Pumaren of the Eagles, who have already secured the twice-to-beat bonus for their semifinal match next week against University of the East.
Leading with a 12-1 slate, the Eagles hardly need the win, yet coach Norman Black doesn’t see it that way.
“It’s La Salle-Ateneo, so there’s always pressure to win,” said Black as the two elite squads clash for the 60th time in the league.
“Whether it’s non-bearing for us or not, it doesn’t really matter. Whenever we play each other, our supporters would love to see us beat La Salle.”
But all won’t be lost for the Archers, who hold a 10-3 record, if the Eagles pull off a repeat of their 79-73 victory of the defending champions in the first round.
The Archers will get a second chance to clinch the twice-to-beat edge against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in a playoff.
The Archers benefited from the win of Pumaren’s younger brother and UE coach Dindo’s Warriors over FEU in a 73-61 decision that stalled the Tamaraws’ own bid for the semifinal edge.
University of Santo Tomas, meanwhile, will try to wrap up its campaign on a winning note against host University of the Philippines at 2 p.m.
The Tigers, out of the top four with a 5-8 record, lost their games by an average of just 4.5 points.
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